Gators now host a team on the rise in Marquette

GAINESVILLE | Florida has already defeated Wisconsin, one of the traditionally stronger teams in the Big Ten Conference. Now, the Gators will try to add a victory over one of the Big East’s top programs to its resume.

The seventh-ranked Gators (5-0) host Marquette at 9 p.m. Thursday. The Golden Eagles (5-1) should have plenty of motivation in their first true road game of the season.

UF eliminated Marquette from the NCAA Tournament last season, beating the third-seeded Golden Eagles 68-58 in the Sweet 16 in Phoenix.

Both teams are noticeably different this season. Marquette lost its two best players in forward Jae Crowder and guard Darius Johnson-Odom. The duo averaged a combined 36 points a game last season and each player averaged 33 minutes a game.

The Golden Eagles have weathered the losses well so far in coach Buzz Williams’ fifth season. Marquette’s only defeat was a 72-71 setback against Butler on Nov. 19. Marquette has three players averaging in double figures in scoring, two of whom, Devante Gardner and Vander Blue, come off the bench.

“They’re incredibly balanced right now,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “I actually think they have a chance and the potential to be better than they were last year when they were outstanding. Last year, they went where Crowder and Odom went, but now they are really a balanced team.”

Florida also is a bit different without guards Bradley Beal and Erving Walker. Beal, a freshman who left for the NBA, scored 21 on Marquette last season, while Walker contributed 11 points.

The Gators do have three players in guard Kenny Boynton, forward Erik Murphy and center Patric Young who had success in the Marquette victory. Boynton finished with 11 points and five assists. Murphy grabbed 10 rebounds and chipped in seven points. Young, a Providence School graduate, scored seven points and had nine rebounds.

That trio is a major reason why UF has outscored its first five foes this season by an average margin of nearly 24 points. UF defeated Wisconsin 74-56 in Gainesville on Nov. 14. Defensively, the Gators are second in the country in scoring defense only allowing 48.4 points per game.

“Either we’re just playing at a high level right now, or other teams haven’t matched our intensity and energy,” Young said. “… We’ve just done a really good job playing our game.”

There are some areas of concern for Donovan. The Gators didn’t come out of halftime well or defend the 3-point area in a 79-66 win over Central Florida last Friday. The Knights opened the second half with an 11-0 run and made 11-of-20 shots from 3-point range.

Offensively, Donovan wants more assists. The Gators are averaging 13 assists a game, down two from last season.

With nearly a week to prepare for Marquette, the Gators have focused on their defense.

“We did a lot of defensive drills yesterday [Monday],” Boynton said. “When we didn’t get them right, we kept doing them over. I think we’re going to have pretty much defensive practices leading up to this game.”